Born in 1991, Louis Tomlinson is the eldest member of the British boy band phenomenon One Direction. But before he could find success with his bandmates -- Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Liam Payne and Zayn Malik -- Tomlinson spent his youth interested in soccer, musicals and acting. In fact, the young Tomlinson became a child actor with bit roles on a few English TV series. His interest in acting and music eventually led Tomlinson to audition for the English talent competition, The X Factor, in 2010. Although the singer was cut as a solo act, the judges encouraged him to join forces with his to-be bandmates, thus forming One Direction. Though the band only managed to place third on the show, they've since exceeded everyone's expectations and then some, winning over the hearts of many as both pop superstars and young heartthrobs.
Selected Discography: Up All Night (2011), Take Me Home (2012), Four (2014)
Related Artists: Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Liam Payne
Further Reading: Louis Tomlinson and Eleanor Calder Break Up, Louis Tomlinson Admits He Almost Didn’t Join One Direction, Which Members of One Direction Make the Most Money?